Defroster



June 21, 1938. E. s. CORNELL, JR

DEFROS TER Filed Feb. 1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tm Q $5 No w m w mS I wY 5 .1 r m- H June 21, 1938. E. s. CORNELL. JR 2,121,754

DEFROSTER Filed Feb. 1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T0 DEFROSTER Patented June 21, 1938 Qumran STATES PATENT OFFICE DEFROSTER- Edwards. Cornell. Jr., Larehmont, N.,Y., as-

signor to American Radiator Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 1, 193a, Serial No. 61,850 2 Claims. (01. 20-405) The invention relates to window defrosters. points, whereby the over-all dimensions are re- My present invention is a developed embodiduced, and such linear reduction utilized in atment of the generic features and operation'of taining superior operation and efliciency. Such my defroster set forth and claimed in my reduction of linear dimensions affords the ad- 5 pending application Serial No. 42,374, filed Sepvantage of reduced area of the face of the glass 5 tember 27, 1935, entitled Window defrosters. of the windshield obscured by the defroster when My present invention, similar to my above rethe defroster is positioned directly upon the windferred to invention, is generically directed to shield, and further permits the defroster to be unitary means for removing from glass vapor, located upon the windshield at a position as -frost, and/or other condensation. By the term close to the area of normal sight through the glass I include the glass constituting the windwindshield as may be preferred by the operator shield of an automobile, the glass of a door of of the automobile or other vehicle. an automobile or other form of self-propelled Further, by my present invention, afforded vehicle, and the like. By the term frost" and by its reduced linear dimensions and for effecits derivatives, I include the above and other tive relation of its parts, the zone of the comvaried forms of condensation, usually tending to pressed air projected by the defroster is reduced obscure vision. and located in immediate proximity to the plane Commercial, embodiments of my present inof the windshield, whereby increased effective vention are represented by unitary devices, each pressure of the air of such zone of projection comprising an apertured member constructed at a given rate of operation of the actuating mo- 20. to receive and transmit air under compression tor and/or given consumption of electrical or and discharge the same in predetermined path of other energy supplied to the heating element is flow, an air compressor, a motor for actuating attained. x the compressor and easing means for housing Such superior arrangement and operation, as

2 the stated parts, the casing means including or substantiated by tests under commercial condiarranged for coordination with suitable means tions, attain the ideal desideratum of rapid and for attaching and/or supporting the stated asmaintained removal of sleet and/or snow from sembly as a unit relative to the surface of the the exterior face of a windshield, under extreme glass to be treated. unfavorable exterior atmospheric conditions, by.

Desirably, for use with an automobile employinstallation of my defroster at or upon the in- 30 ing an internal combustion engine as its tracterior face of the windshield.

tive motor, the motor of my defroster may be Further features and objects of my invention or the air propelled type, advantageously opwill be more fully understood from the following erated under sub-atmospheric pressure by condetail description and the accompanying draw- 36 nection through suitable tube means with the i'i'i ings, in which take manifold of the'tractive motor. However Fig. 1 is a central sectional view of a prethe motor of my defroster may be operated by ferred embodiment of my invention. This view compressed air from any suitable source, or may also shows in sectional elevation a pane of glass, be electrically driven by energy from the storage such as a windshield, upon one face of which my 40 battery or other electrical source, or otherdefroster is positioned. 40 wise suitably energized. Advantageousiy, the Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2--2 of Fig. compressor is of the rotary type, thereby attain- 1, a portion being broken away to reveal othering simplification of structure with attendant wise hidden parts. reduced overall dimensions and also efliciency Fig. 3 is a front elevation of Figs. 1 and 2.

of operation by a rotary type of motor. The Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on line 4-4 5 compressed air may be heated as by means of a of Fig. 1, showing an electrical heater element. suitable heating element, in its transit through Fig, 5 is an Qelevation of a refined commercial the defroster. Such heating-element may be of embodiment of my defroster. the electrical type, energized by the storage bat- Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-4 of Fig. 5,

so tery or other suitable electrical source, or heated on a somewhat enlarged scale. by heat exchange relation with the heated gases Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view on line 11 of the exhaust of the tractive motor, or in any of Fig. 6, on a further enlarged scale. other suitable manner. Fig. 8 is an elevation of a junction member My present invention is particularly directed advantageous for affording permanent installato a unitary assembly of the stated essential tion of a portion of my defroster system, while permitting the defroster per se and its immediately connected parts to be detached and stored.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view, in side elevation, showing a manner of hook-up of my defroster system, the defroster being equipped with an air motor operated under sub-atmospheric pressure by piping connection with the inlet manifold of the tractive motor.

Referring to the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the defroster per se comprises in essence a housing ill provided with a suitably apertured and suitably located opening ll, providing for the ingress of alr,--indicated by the arrows l2,-a compressor enclosed in the housing Ill, and including a compressor blade l3 disposed within a suitable compartment ll, formed as a portion of the interior of the housing i0. Such compartment ll has a suitable egress opening l5 leading to the channel II, suitably dimensioned and correlated to receive and transmit-see arrow ||-air under compression delivered by the compressor and to project such compressed air through its discharge opening its, indicated by the arrows l8, pursuant to the objectives of my invention, in suitable relation to the glass of a windshield, or the like.

Pursuant to the illustrated embodiments of my invention, and advantageous in an automobile, aeroplane, or other vehicle employing an internal combustion engine as the tractive or propelling motor, the compressor is shown actuated by an air motor, which may comprise the structural and functional features of my air motor described and claimed in my U. S. Patents Nos. 1,926,529 and 1,926,528, patented September 12, 1933, No. 2,013,087, patented September 3, 1935.

Such form of air motor may be, and preferably is, unitarily embodied in such housing Ill, the rotor of such motor being shown at 20, its inflow opening through a passage 2i and its outflow nipple at 22. In such type of installation suitable piping connection ishad with the inlet manifold of the tractive engine, indicated at 23, see Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 9, such piping may include tubing 24, desirably of metal or other heat and oil resisting material, extending through the hood compartment to the dash, indicated at 25, and connected to the tubing 28, which may be of rubber or the like if desired. Advantageously, such tubing 20 leads to a Junction device 21, described more fully hereinafter, and eventually through the tubing 23, which may be of rubber or the like, to the outflow nipple 22, see Figs. 1 and 2, of the air motor.

Effectively. and as shown, the rear wall Ila serves to house the air rotor 20, such rear wall Ilia being correspondingly contoured; the opposite wall of the air motor housing is shown constituted of a suitably contoured cylindrical disc 23, received within the reduced. cylindrically receased portion lb of the unitary housing. Such intermediate wall, 1. e., the disc 23, serves also for support of a bearing Ill. rotatably supporting the shaft II of the air rotor 23, which shaft 3| dually serves as the shaft for the compressor blade l3.

Suitable control of the rate of operation of the compressor, is shown in the form of a control of the rate of operation of its actuating motor, in this instance an air motor, the control being shown at the inflow opening 2| of such motor. Such control, as shown, comprises a movable valve member 32, mounted on a shaft 33, and operated by a finger piece 34. Such finger piece desirably has a free end 34a, enlarged laterally to thereby afford a lug-like lateral formation serving, in conjunction with the face I00, see Fig. 2, of the housing Ill, to limit the range of movement of the fingerpiece 34, in its setting of effective extent of opening of the inflow opening 2 I The movable valve member 32 is shown of the through bore type, its bore being indicated at 32a. The valve 32 is shown in Fig. 2 in its fully open position.

As appears from Fig. 1, the stated unitary structure of my defroster, may be removably installed relative to the glass 19 of a windshield of an automobile or the like. Such removable installation is conveniently had by the employment of a suction cup support, see 35, Fig. 1, wherein the defroster is shown supported by such suction cup 35 directly upon a face of the windshield glass IS.

The ingress opening ii of the housing in may, as shown, be provided by a set of spaced parallelly extending strips I la; such arrangement provides for ornamentation and also protects against accidental or unauthorized access to rotating parts and/ or the live electrical resistance while in operation.

The air projected by the defroster is desirably heated; such heating may be had by any suitable means. Preferably, the heating means is incorporated unitarily with the defroster per se, as by, utilizing electrical heating means, mounting the same, i. e., an electrical resistance element 36, see Figs. 1, 2 and 4, insulatedly upon a frame 31, which frame may be secured, as by screws 38, at the inflow opening I I of the housing It). Such frame 31, and its thereby supported electrical re-- sistance 36, forms a grille-like structure through the meshes of which permeates the air induced by the propeller i3 of the compressor, whereby such air is brought into direct heating exchange relation with the heated electrical resistance. The conductors connected to the respective terminals of the electrical resistance 36, are indicated at 39 and 40.

In such removable form of installation of the defroster, it is advantageous to provide for the storing of the defroster per se while maintaining permanent piping connection with the inlet manifold of the tractive motor. Such arrangement is conveniently had by the provision of a junction device, see Figs. 8 and 9, providing inter alia for support of one end of the piping 26,1eading toward the intake manifold, and a valve 4| for closing the end of the pipe 26-when the defroster is not in useto shut off needless inflow of air into the inlet manifold of the combustion engine.

Such junction device 21 may serve correspondingly for the reception and support of the free ends of the electrical conductors leading from the storage battery or other source of energy of the heating element. The cable 42 represents such conductors which may be connected to the respective terminals of the ammeter or of the ignition switch, indicated at 42a, of the automobile, in lieu of direct connection with the terminals of the storage battery, the free ends of such conductors, indicated at 42b, in Fig. 8, being respectively received in, and supported by, tubular electrical contacts, indicated at 43. Such tubular electrical contacts 43, at their opposite ends, are adapted to receive the metallic tips 44 of the respective conductors 39, Ill, see Figs. 4; 9, leading to the terminals of the electrical resistance 33, as set out hereinabove.

Such junction device 21 is conveniently installed in association with the panel board "of the automobile, or with the instrument board of an aeroplane, or similarly in any other vehicle, as by the provision of a clamping bracket, the bracket being indicated at 46 and its clamping screw at 41, whereby, as illustrated in Fig. 9, the Junction device 21 may be installed 'in alignment with the exposed face of such panel board 45, or equivalent, by suspension from its usual inwardly horizontally extending lower flange 45a. By such installation, the'operating knob of the shut-off valve 4i is positioned within ready and convenient reach of the operator of the automobile or other vehicle.

The valve 4| of the junction device 21 may be of any suitable type. I As indicated in the drawings, the valve 4| may be of the needle type, set to fully closed position by, say, clockwise rotation, and through partial (or intermediate) to full opening by counter-clockwise rotation of its knob 4|.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 illustrate a refined, commercial embodiment of my invention, comprising the above set out essentials of my invention, and incorporating accessories for convenience, the assembly being designed for ornamentation as well as utility; like parts are indicated by like reference characters.

The control of the rate of operation of the compressor, i. e., by corresponding control of the air motor, is shown in Figs. 5 and 6, in the form of a finger piece 34, located at the front of the housing Ill. The finger piece 34 is shown in Fig. 5 in its 011" position. By movement of the finger piece 34', say, counter-clockwise, the regulating valve at the intake opening of the air motor is gradually opened, through "slow, (i. e., intermediate) and thence to "i'ast (l. e., full), suitable limiting means being provided. The stated" "off", "slow, fast, or equivalent, indications may be suitably aillxed with reference to the pointer of the manipulating piece 34'.

Desirably the housing I 0 is formed of mouldable material, such as synthetic resins, so-termed bakelite, or the like.

Also, for convenience, the electrical switch of the heating element may be mounted on and unitarily combined with the defroster per se. An electrical switch is indicated at 41, of the tumbler type, its on" and off" positions being designated by the stated or corresponding indications applied upon or moulded in the material of the wall of the defroster. Also, for convenience, means are provided, and as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, unitarily incorporated in the defroster per se, for

visual showing on and off'of the electrical current, passing through the heating" resistance 36. Such visual or equivalent indicating means is conveniently had, see Fig. 6, by connecting a miniature electrical lamp 48 inthe circuit of the leads 39, 40, and suitably'located, as in a cylindrically formed compartment 49, the outer end of which is closed by a button 50, say, of colored glass, whereby, upon closing of the electr cal circuit, the lamp 48, or equivalent is lighted, and definite visual indication is given by the lamp button" 50, or equivalent. In the use of an inlet manifold, or equivalent operation of the defroster, automatically or concomitantly with the tractive or propelling motor, upon cessation of the latter, the defroster automatically ceases operation, independently pf the control 34 or 34' of the defrosterand independently of the shut-off valve 4| of the junction device 21.

Fig. 7 illustrates a form of control of the speed of operation of the air motor. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7, two inflow passages 2|, serve as the inflow leading to the interior of the air motor, such inflow openings, being respectively axially directed at dual cooperating angles to the buckets of the air rotor 20, to afford eflective actuation of therotor, at "slow, and enhanced high speed at fast, the flow of air through the slow opening, shown of larger bore in Fig. 7, and through both openings at "fast, control of air flow is bad by a hollow valve member 32' having an arcuate valve opening 32a. Preferably, and as shown, the valve member 32' is provided with position setting means, shown in-the form of a spring biased ball 5|, cooperating with the recesses 52, 53, 54, respectively corresponding to ofi, slow, fast. The supply of air to the interior of the movable valve member 3| may be had as desired, either by direct opening communicating with the .outer atmosphere, or by distributed openings aiforded by the normal clearances in the assembly of the component parts of the housing, the latter being effective to .aflord distribution of air fiow in the operation of the air rotor, functioning as a quasifilter of dust and other foreign material, etc.

compression delivered by the compressor, and ar- I ranged and constructed at its discharge opening to project such compressed air over a flatwise path of fiow, and in direction more and more toward the plane of the glass to be defrosted, the longer dimension of such flat-wise path of the compressed air at the instance of discharge being substantially parallel to the plane of the glass.

Further, the provision of conduction of the air under compression through the channel means and the attainment of optimum angle of attack of the projected air delivered through the discharge opening of the channel, is enhanced by the curved formation of the channel means adjacent and at its discharge opening, see walls Hid, Ilid, of the housing. Fig. 1, thereby providing for convergent tapering of the channel means toward and to its discharge opening, and the positive guidance of the ultimately projected air discharge, as to optimum range of angle of attack of the projected compressed air, heated or unheated, and the resulting range of zone of air flow at and over the area of the face of the glass defrosted and in return to the inflow opening I l of the defroster.

Further, by disposing the air motor at the rear wall of the housing, at which rear wall the suction-cup support is exteriorly secured, the overall dimension of the housing per se is reduced.

Minimaljcross-section of the unitary assembly parallel to the plane of the glass of the windcompressed air to and at the area to be defrosted and the path of return flow of the air to the ingress opening ll of the housing is definitely reduced, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the air flow in defrosting function, as well as minimizing the area of the plane of the glass occupied by the defroster, and afiording improved visibility to the operator in the operation of the vehicle.

Whereas, I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:-

1. In a defroster possessing minimum visibility obstructing dimensions, the combination of a housing, an air compressor mounted in said nous-- ing, said housing being provided at one side with an air ingress opening leading to the portion of said housing in which said air compressor is 1ocated, channel means formed in said housing communicating with the delivery of said air compressor, said channel means being constructed to transmit the delivered air under compression, the walls of said channel means converging transversely longitudinally of the respective directions of extension of said channel means in the direction of air flow therethrough, and means for supporting said housing upon a glass device to position the axis of the discharge of the housing at an acute angle to the plane of the glass device, whereby the stated convergent wall formation 01 said channel means minimizes the visibility obstructing dimensions of the defroster and dually maintains compression of the conveyed com pressed air.

2. In a defroster possessing minimum visibility obstructing dimensions, the combination of a housing, means for supporting said housing upon a glass device, the wall of said housing on its side remote from the glass device being convex with respect to the glass device, channel means formed in said housing and including said convex wall of the housing, an air compressor mounted in said housing, a motor for actuating said air compressor, said motor being wholly disposed within said casing, said housing being provided on one side with an air ingress opening leading to said air compressor, the walls oi! said channel means including said convex side of the housing converging in the direction of air flow therethrough, said channel means having a discharge opening disposed at an acute angle to the plane 01' the glass device.

EDWARD S. CORNELL, JR. 

